Page 11 of Wildflower and Whiskey
“Please don’t say anything to him, Izzy,” I cut in, my panic rising. “He has the championships coming up. He should be focusing on winning and making himself a name. If he knows Papa is on a bender, he’ll be distracted. It’ll hurt his game.”
A pause stretched between us before she finally said, “I won’t say a word to Luc, but see if Phoenix can make some arrangements to free up a cabin for you.”
I gave a weak laugh, trying to sound lighter than I felt. “I’ll try.”
“Thanks,” she said when it should’ve been me thanking her for her concern.
“I should be thanking you,” I said, causing Izzy to laugh. “Say hi to my brother and hug him for me.”
“Will do.”
We said goodbye, and when the line went dead, I looked at Braden, his tiny fist closing around my finger, his face messy with banana. My chest ached.
I could keep pretending I was managing, but Izzy was right. I was running out of time.
CHAPTER 6
Phoenix
Sleep eluded me last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Elyna. Not the girl I remembered from high school, the sharp-tongued and reckless girl, but the woman she had become. Someone who was clearly struggling but responsible. A woman who would do anything for her son. She showed up to the brewery tired but determined.
I woke up hard and aching in the morning, my sheets twisted around me like I’d been wrestling with myself all night. By the time I stumbled into the shower, I was hard as a rock. The water beat down hot as steam curled thick around me. I braced one hand against the tile, shut my eyes, and gave in. Gave in to the images I swore I wouldn’t let myself conjure. Elyna with her hair down, wet and clinging to her shoulders. Elyna tilting her head back with a soft gasp when I touched her. Elyna pressed against the wall, breathless, her gray eyes locked on mine while I drove into her. My fist worked over my cock, fast and furious, because I hated how much I needed it. Hated I was back to being that teenage boy, jerking off to thoughts of the girl who used to torment me. Only now it wasn’t some foolish crush, it was worse. She was a changed woman. I noticed how she grew intothis fierce, resilient woman who dragged herself out of bed early, every damn morning, just to earn enough to keep her baby fed. I came with her name choking in my throat and my body shaking. I wanted to punch the wall after. Disgust burned through me as much as relief. I wasn’t supposed to want her like this. Not now. Not when she deserved respect.
I pressed my forehead to the tile, panting and cursing under my breath. I promised myself years ago I would never degrade back to the pathetic teenage boy who couldn’t stop thinking about Elyna Chabot. But here I was a twenty-eight-year-old man unraveling every time she walked into a room. And the worst part? She didn’t even see me.
I scrubbed soap over my skin, trying to wash away more than just sweat. By the time I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a black Henley, I still felt restless and wound too tight. I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.
The walk to the brewery was short. I ran into my brother Eric, like I did most mornings. He ran the orchard and bakery, and that meant he was awake before sunrise every damn day.
“Mornin’, bro,” he said, nodding as he passed me.
“Mornin’.”
He laughed at that, which was weird because I hadn’t said anything remotely funny.
“Why do you seem extra grumpy today?” he asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I muttered.
He lifted his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. You going to stop in at Dad’s later for dinner? Haven’t seen you in a while.”
Eric lived with Dad, Becket, and Asher at the main house, and every once in a while he cooked dinner for all of us since he liked to herd us together.
“Maybe,” I said.
“Good. I heard Elyna’s working for you now. Thought I’d invite her too.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. Last thing I needed, after the night I’d had, was to sit across the table from Elyna and her baby in some cozy family dinner.
“I forgot I’ve got some orders to put through tonight,” I said quickly.
Eric’s mouth tugged at one corner, like he knew exactly what I was doing. “Ah. Playing that angle.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Come on, Phoenix, you’ve had some love-hate relationship with her ever since you two hit middle school.” He sighed.
“There was no love involved,” I assured my brother.
